This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/8451105.stm

The article has changed 26 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
PMs hold India-Bangladesh talks India-Bangladesh sign agreements
(about 22 hours later)
Bangladesh's Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is to meet her Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh as her first official visit to India gets under way. India and Bangladesh have signed five agreements including treaties on tackling cross-border crime and combating terrorism.
The two neighbours are expected to sign a range of agreements including treaties on tackling cross-border crime and combating terrorism. The agreements were signed on the opening day of Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina's official visit to India.
India has also pledged continued economic assistance to Bangladesh. Sheikh Hasina assured the Indians that Bangladesh would not allow its soil to be used by groups "inimical to India."
Ties between the two have improved after Sheikh Hasina's Awami League-led government came to power last year.Ties between the two have improved after Sheikh Hasina's Awami League-led government came to power last year.
Since then Bangladesh has cracked down on Indian separatist rebels sheltering in the country and handed over several senior rebel leaders to India.Since then Bangladesh has cracked down on Indian separatist rebels sheltering in the country and handed over several senior rebel leaders to India.
Nearly 200 fighters belonging to rebel groups in Assam and Tripura have fled the crackdown in Bangladesh and some have already surrendered.Nearly 200 fighters belonging to rebel groups in Assam and Tripura have fled the crackdown in Bangladesh and some have already surrendered.
And ahead of the meeting between the two prime ministers, Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said that India was looking into the "entire range of developmental issues of direct interest to Bangladesh". The two neighbours signed agreements relating to mutual legal assistance in criminal matters, transfer of sentenced persons, combating terrorism, organised crime and drug trafficking, sharing electricity and bolstering cultural links.
This included economic assistance in developing railway infrastructure, transportation and investment and trade, she said. "We are confident that this visit would serve to underline that strong India-Bangladesh relations are vital, not just for both our countries, but for the entire region and the international community," Indian Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said.
"We seek to revive those physical and emotional links which remain disrupted since independence. We also seek their understanding and co-operation on our security and connectivity needs," she said. Sheikh Hasina met her Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh and the ruling Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi on Monday.
Water dispute India has also pledged continued economic assistance to Bangladesh.
But the BBC's Ethirajan Anbarasan in Dhaka says, the two countries still have a range of contentious issues to resolve ranging from the sharing of river waters to demarcation of a maritime boundary in the Bay of Bengal. Correspondents say the two countries still have a range of contentious issues to resolve ranging from the sharing of river waters to demarcation of a maritime boundary in the Bay of Bengal.
Bangladesh and India share more than 50 rivers but Bangladesh believes it is not getting enough water, as India has built a number of dams upstream, our correspondent says. Bangladesh and India share more than 50 rivers but Bangladesh believes it is not getting enough water, as India has built a number of dams upstream.
The dispute over the maritime border is important as it is believed that there may be vast gas and oil deposits in the Bay of Bengal.The dispute over the maritime border is important as it is believed that there may be vast gas and oil deposits in the Bay of Bengal.
Bangladesh's Foreign Minister, Dipu Moni, told the BBC that the country was prepared to go the UN if bilateral negotiations failed to solve the maritime boundary dispute.Bangladesh's Foreign Minister, Dipu Moni, told the BBC that the country was prepared to go the UN if bilateral negotiations failed to solve the maritime boundary dispute.
Nevertheless correspondents say the two countries are likely to sign half a dozen agreements during Sheikh Hasina's visit.
They include an agreement on "mutual legal assistance in criminal matters", combating international terrorism and cracking down on organised crime and drug trafficking.
Agreements on closer economic ties and energy co-operation are also expected to be signed.